'Urban Village' developing off U.S. 290 inside Beltway

Published
6:00 pm CST, Tuesday, January 29, 2002

"We're building an urban village of high-end townhomes," said Smithsonian Developers' President Thomas Steinweg. "This area of Houston has a sizable high-tech workforce whose members enjoy the look and feel of urban life. Our new development, Stoneyway village, will offer amenities and streetscapes that appeal to these homebuyers."

Smithsonian Developers specializes in "niche residential construction," he said, and has a number of inner loop developments.

"Windfern Forest is a terrific demographic location for our products," Steinweg said. "The intersection of Beltway and 290 is close to many high-tech companies and their employees. We believe this is a great time to build an urban townhome village in this area."

Stoneyway Village will feature 90 to 120 fee-simple townhomes, as well as a pool and clubhouse.

"We're working with several well known architects and development designers who are integrating the latest innovations into Stoneyway Village," Steinweg said. "We will have eight floorplans with high-end features and options."

Three major factors led the company to choose Windfern Forest, he said.

"First, the location. Windfern Forest is just inside the Beltway at 290, with easy access to all of Houston. Second, the reputation of Wolff Companies was a major draw. Their developments are top-notch, and they attract excellent clients. We want to build our products in high-quality environments. Third, the local economy seems ripe for additional residential and commercial expansion in this westward area of Houston."

Wolff Companies, he said, has participated in the development of highly desirable residential properties off Barker Cypress, near Fairfield, and in Windfern Forest. The community is surrounded by a number of new subdivision developments such as Laurel Creek , Woodwind Lakes and Oak Lake Pointe, immediately east of the city of Jersey Village. Trammel Crow Residential is working on the second of two housing developments in Windfern Forest.

"This area of northwest Houston is achieving a concentration of residential development that will in turn make retail development very attractive," said David Lane, executive vice president of Wolff Companies.

With the 9.3-acre sale for Stoneywood Village, Windfern Forest has one available tract, he said.

David W. Hightower, executive vice president of Wolff Companies, represented Wolff in the transaction.